The acclaimed career of Portland Thorns forward and soccer icon Christine Sinclair is approaching its final chapter. Sinclair, now 41, announced her retirement this past Friday with the Thorns scheduling a tribute during her last regular season game against Angel City on November 1, as OregonLive reported. The Canadian superstar leaves behind a legacy that spans unprecedented individual success and collective triumphs with both the University of Portland and the Thorns.

Sinclair's journey in soccer began at the University of Portland, where she led the team to two NCAA Championships and set the all-time Division I women's scoring record at 39 goals, a record that remains unsurpassed. Having played from 2001-2005, she earned accolades such as the Hermann Trophy twice and the Honda-Broderick Cup, denoting the nation's best female collegiate athlete. On the professional front, Sinclair is recognized as the only player to have been associated with every title the Thorns have ever clinched, as noted by KOIN.com.

Beyond her achievements on the college and club level, Sinclair's international career is marked by a scoring record that overshadows even the juggernauts of men's soccer. As reported by KGW, her 190 international goals are more than any other player, male or female, eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo's 132. Her national team tenure included participation in six Women's World Cups and earning three Olympic medals, including gold in Tokyo.

While the Canadian striker hung up her boots for the national team in 2023, her imprint on the women's game will live on through not just records but the inspiration countless young athletes have drawn from her steely determination and on-field prowess. Looking back, the Portland community will lionize her longstanding contributions both at the alma mater where she scored the title-winning golden goal in 2002, and later with the Thorns, where she leaves an indelible mark on the very fabric of the team.